Chapter 133: Ice Needle Pot

Li Lin stared at the painting for a while and confirmed one thing: the artist of this painting was the same as the author of the Goukou Cave Mansion.

Because the handwriting was identical.

But what did this inscribed poem mean?

Does time pass quickly here in a physical sense, or a spiritual one?

Or is it… another illusion?

The illusion Li Lin knew: the world of the Hui Character Spell.

He didn’t understand.

He turned the painting over and over, saw no further clues, and hung it back on the wall.

Yan Jing floated nearby, seemingly curious about everything around her.

Li Lin went back to the cushion, examined it, then sighed helplessly.

Unlike the previous cave mansion, this place held only these few items.

No Wordless Heavenly Book.

At that moment, Yan Jing suddenly spoke: “Wait, there’s something still inside this pot.”

Li Lin turned and picked up the glass pot, seeing clearly that something remained inside.

Because the object was so transparent, Li Lin hadn’t noticed it at all.

He gently shook the glass pot, and the nearly invisible substance inside suddenly shattered.

It split into countless “ice needles,” emitting faint, tinkling sounds.

Like distant wind chimes.

Staring at the half-pot of ice needles, Li Lin froze—he realized these were identical to the ice needles that had fallen from the moon in the Hui Character Illusion.

Li Lin looked again at the painting, and now he understood what it depicted.

These ice needles.

“Illusion passes in an instant; fifty autumns pass in the mortal world!”

Was this referring to the Hui Character Illusion?

Li Lin tilted the pot slightly, and three ice needles flowed out one after another into the glass cup beside him.

He stared at the three ice needles but did not touch them.

Instead, Yan Jing leaned close, studied them for a moment, and asked with longing eyes: “Can I eat one? This emits yin energy—it feels perfect for me.”

“I don’t know what this is, or what consequences it might have.”

“I’m not afraid,” Yan Jing smiled seductively, leaning closer. “Magistrate, I apologize—I underestimated you before. It was my fault. Beat me, punish me, do as you please.”

Li Lin hadn’t cared about her earlier disdain, but he worried that consuming this might truly harm her.

Seeing Li Lin hesitate, Yan Jing knelt down. “I’ll give up the yin-energy stone too. Just grant me one of these divine artifacts, and from this day forward, I pledge my loyalty to you—unwavering, absolute.”

Yan Jing had truly wanted to seize it… but she knew she could never take it.

She was Li Lin’s spirit, and any such thought would be instantly known to him.

So she dared not even imagine it.

Li Lin looked at her and sighed: “Things left by immortals are unpredictable.”

This was identical to what appeared in the Hui Character Spell—he remembered how agonizing it had been when those ice needles pierced his body.

She might not survive it.

“I’m not afraid!” Yan Jing’s eyes burned.

The more she stared, the more she desired it; her consciousness itself yearned for it inexplicably.

Li Lin thought for a moment. Since she wanted it so badly, let her have it.

Consider it an experiment.

If she truly perished, he could still return alone.

After all, he had the Stealth Technique—he could just be careful on the way.

He extended the glass cup toward her.

“Thank you, Magistrate.”

Yan Jing carefully picked up one ice needle, and with reverent solemnity, placed it in her mouth.

The ice needle dissolved instantly upon contact.

It became a few droplets, sinking into her belly.

“A little sweet,” Yan Jing smiled.

Then she laughed, and the yin energy around her seemed to swell.

“No wonder it’s an immortal’s…”

Her words cut off as her expression twisted in pain.

At once, the yin energy on her body surged wildly, growing stronger and more chaotic.

Simultaneously, the surrounding air plummeted in temperature.

Li Lin instinctively stepped back.

Yan Jing began trembling violently.

And the trembling grew worse.

Frost now coated her hair, clothes, skin—she turned pale, almost white.

She looked at Li Lin, eyes filled with agony and pleading: “I can’t… hold on… Magistrate… save me.”

She clutched her body tightly, her shaking growing fainter, as if she were about to freeze solid.

Li Lin extended his palm. “Absorb my blood qi.”

Yan Jing instinctively licked it.

After two licks, the white blood qi entered her throat, and her trembling lessened.

Two more licks, and the frost vanished entirely from her body.

She looked up at Li Lin, eyes wide with wonder.

Then she tried to lick again—but Li Lin withdrew his hand.

“Magistrate, your taste is wonderful!” Yan Jing gazed at him with an intensity surpassing even her hunger for the ice needles: “Can I have just a few more sips?”

Li Lin ignored her. He studied the glass pot on the table—the ice needles had once again become nearly transparent, merging into a liquid form.

He thought for a moment, tore a strip from his robe hem, wrapped the entire glass pot, and tied it to his waist.

He would take this with him.

Then he asked: “After eating the ice needles, what benefits did you feel?”

“Yes—my yin energy strengthened significantly,” Yan Jing leaned close, her gaze now holding an indescribable emotion: “But it pales beside the few sips of your blood qi.”

Li Lin nodded.

The Hui Character Spell was indeed unsuitable for spirits.

Yan Jing pressed against Li Lin, smiling seductively: “Now you’re my master—can I have a few more sips? If I grow stronger, I can serve you better.”

Li Lin shook his head: “I never agreed to take you on. I saved you out of friendship, nothing more. Don’t misunderstand—I’m no opportunist.”

“Master, though I’m a spirit and a woman, I know a promise is worth a thousand gold. Please accept me.”

Li Lin still shook his head.

He already had the Tree Immortal Lady—and caring for her consumed enough blood qi. Adding another seductive spirit… his cultivation speed would plummet.

After all, less blood qi meant slower cultivation.

Seeing Li Lin refuse, Yan Jing looked crestfallen.

She now regretted having underestimated this magistrate.

Li Lin searched the room once more, confirmed no other objects remained, then pulled out a talisman. “Enter.”

Yan Jing returned to the talisman. Li Lin placed the cushion in the corner, stepped onto it.

Everything around him darkened, pitch black.

Moments later, as his fire starter flared, they were back in the previous cave.

Li Lin stepped out of the cave and returned to the guesthouse in Guicheng.

He needed to retrieve his horse.

The horse had been well cared for. Li Lin paid, mounted, and was about to leave the back courtyard when someone blocked his path.

The Ding family man again.

He stared at Li Lin, his gaze lingering on his waist, then smiled: “It seems Magistrate Li has found something.”

“Indeed.”

Li Lin admitted it—the pot’s shape was unmistakable.

“The patriarch invites you. A banquet is prepared. Magistrate Li, please grace us with your presence.”

Li Lin sat atop his tall steed, his long spear resting along the horse’s side, spearhead pointing backward.

He could reach for it in an instant.

But he didn’t. Instead, he asked: “A banquet of betrayal?”

“Of course not!” the young Ding man bowed. “We dare not offend the Huang family of Jingcheng—their son-in-law. The patriarch merely wishes to exchange insights.”

Li Lin considered, then said: “Very well. Lead the way.”

The young man exhaled in relief and smiled: “Thank you, Magistrate Li, for trusting the Ding family.”

The young man led ahead; Li Lin followed on horseback.

Not long after, they arrived at the southern edge of Guicheng, where a massive estate came into view.

“No wonder it’s a prominent clan—this place is enormous.”

This estate wasn’t just a matter of multiple courtyards; its total area reached a hundred mu.

Inside the estate, under the young man’s guidance, they wound through countless turns and passed through numerous moon gates before finally reaching the lower reception hall.

It was situated on elevated ground; seated within a pavilion-like structure, one could take in all surrounding scenery and the entire estate at a glance.

Across from Li Lin sat a middle-aged man with a face as radiant as polished jade, smiling warmly.

“Li County Wei , no wonder you’re a scion of a great family,” the man chuckled. “I am Ding Feng, father of Ding Yingqiu and head of the Ding family.”

“Li Lin, courtesy name Kunge,” Li Lin replied, clasping his fists in return.

At that moment, several maids arrived and placed down platters of delicacies.

Seizing the opportunity, Ding Feng studied Li Lin and said, “You carry an aura not your own—do you practice Spirit-Nurturing Art?”

Li Lin nodded.

Ding Feng’s eyes lit up. “May I see the spirit you nurture?”

After a moment’s thought, Li Lin pulled out a talisman and released Yan Jing.

Though it was daytime, Yan Jing was a great spirit and could appear—as long as she wasn’t directly exposed to sunlight.

The moment Yan Jing emerged, she stood behind Li Lin, head bowed, eyes downcast, like a perfectly obedient young maid.

Yet Ding Feng dared not underestimate this woman.

A spirit so stable it could appear in daylight—she could only be a great spirit.

“No wonder your family has such deep roots,” Ding Feng praised. “The wine and food are ready—please, County Wei , enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

The moment Li Lin spoke, Yan Jing moved ahead of him and poured wine for him.

Her movements were effortless, yet carried an indescribable allure.

After all, Yan Jing had once possessed several courtesans—she knew precisely how to serve men.

To Ding Feng, this demeanor carried even deeper implications.

After some casual chatter, as the wine flowed freely, Ding Feng suddenly asked, “County Wei , what treasures did you find in your cave? Might I see them?”

Li Lin didn’t mind—he pulled out the glass flask and placed it on the table.

Ding Feng looked puzzled.

Then Yan Jing picked up the glass flask and gently shook it.

With a faint chime, the liquid inside transformed into countless fine ice needles.

(End of Chapter)